Cowboys Draft Pass Rusher with Pick from Packers in Micah Parsons Trade: A Move That Haunts Green Bay?

GREEN BAY – The 2025 NFL Draft will forever be remembered as the night the Green Bay Packers watched their future edge rusher get selected by a division rival—using a pick they themselves traded away. When the Dallas Cowboys called out the name of Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick, it wasn’t just a routine selection. It was the final, tangible echo of the blockbuster trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.

For Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, the moment was a calculated silence. He sat in the war room, arms crossed, as the Cowboys—armed with Green Bay’s first-rounder—bolstered their pass rush with a 6’5”, 260-pound disruptor. The irony? If the Packers had kept that pick, they might have drafted Lawrence themselves. But they didn’t. And they never will. Because they already have the man who makes that pick irrelevant: Micah Parsons.

This is the story of a trade that reshaped two franchises, a draft pick that carries the weight of a superstar’s shadow, and a front office that refuses to flinch.

The Trade That Changed Everything: Parsons to Dallas

Let’s rewind to March 2024. The NFL world was stunned when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys agreed to a trade that sent the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Micah Parsons, to the Cowboys. In return, Green Bay received a 2025 first-round pick (which became the 23rd overall selection), a 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional second-rounder. It was a haul that would make any general manager blush—but it came with a price: losing a generational talent.

Fast forward to Thursday night. The Cowboys, holding that very pick from Green Bay, selected Malachi Lawrence, a pass rusher from UCF who dominated the American Athletic Conference with 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 2024. Lawrence is a raw, explosive athlete with a motor that never stops—a perfect fit for Dan Quinn’s aggressive defense. But the narrative isn’t about Lawrence’s potential. It’s about the player the Packers gave up to get that pick.

“The player we got with that pick,” Gutekunst said earlier this week, “I’m good with.”

He was referring to the player the Packers selected with the 23rd overall pick—but not the one Dallas used. Green Bay traded down twice on draft night, eventually landing Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter at No. 28. Lassiter is a sticky, physical cover man who fills a glaring need. But the question lingers: Would the Packers rather have Lassiter and two future firsts, or Micah Parsons?

For Gutekunst, the answer is clear. The Packers’ defense collapsed in 2024 without a consistent edge presence. Parsons’ 14 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and game-wrecking ability were replaced by a rotation of journeymen. Yet, the GM insists the trade was about long-term roster construction.

“You don’t trade a player like Micah unless you believe you can build a championship team with the assets,” Gutekunst said. “We believe in our process.”

Malachi Lawrence: The Pick That Burns Green Bay’s Fans

Let’s talk about Malachi Lawrence—the man who now wears the star. The Cowboys didn’t just draft a pass rusher; they drafted a Marshall-esque threat off the edge. Lawrence has a first-step quickness that leaves tackles grasping air, a swim move that would make Dwight Freeney proud, and the flexibility to drop into coverage when needed. His pro day numbers were electric: a 4.58 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-8 broad jump.

But here’s the gut-punch for Packers fans: Lawrence was widely projected as a late first-round pick, and many mock drafts had him landing in Green Bay. The Packers’ biggest weakness in 2024 was pressuring the quarterback. They ranked 22nd in sack rate, and the departure of Parsons left a void that Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness couldn’t fill. Lawrence would have been the perfect bookend—a young, cheap, cost-controlled edge rusher to develop alongside Gary.

Instead, he’s a Cowboy. And he’ll likely face the Packers in Week 10 of the 2025 season, wearing the same blue and silver that Micah Parsons now calls home.

Here’s why this pick stings for Green Bay:

• Immediate need vs. future assets: The Packers traded a proven superstar for draft capital that won’t fully materialize until 2027. Meanwhile, the Cowboys get a rookie who can contribute immediately.
• Division implications: The Cowboys are now loaded with Parsons and Lawrence—a terrifying duo that could dominate the NFC East for years.
• Value mismatch: A first-round pick for a player like Parsons is a steal. The Cowboys essentially got a top-5 defender and a promising rookie for a package that, in hindsight, feels light.

But let’s not bury Gutekunst just yet. The Packers’ GM is playing chess while the rest of us play checkers. He’s betting that the 2027 first-rounder—which could be a top-10 pick if the Cowboys’ window closes—will yield a player as good as Parsons. It’s a high-risk, high-reward gamble that only time can validate.

Expert Analysis: Did the Packers Win or Lose the Trade?

As a sports journalist, I’ve covered dozens of blockbuster trades. Some age like fine wine (think Randy Moss to the Patriots). Others curdle quickly (see: Herschel Walker to the Vikings). The Parsons trade is still in its infancy, but the early returns are mixed.

What the Packers gained:

• A 2025 first-round pick (used on Kamari Lassiter, a starting-caliber corner).
• A 2027 first-round pick (future flexibility).
• A conditional second-rounder (likely a 2026 pick).
• Cap relief: Parsons’ $28 million cap hit in 2025 is off the books.

What the Cowboys gained:

• Micah Parsons (24 years old, three-time All-Pro, still in his prime).
• Malachi Lawrence (a rookie edge rusher with Pro Bowl potential).
• Immediate Super Bowl contention.

On paper, the Cowboys look like the winners. They replaced a first-round pick with a player who is already a superstar, and then used that same pick to draft a potential star. It’s the kind of aggressive, win-now move that owner Jerry Jones loves. But the Packers are playing the long game.

“Green Bay’s front office is betting on the draft,” says NFL analyst Mike Tanier. “They believe that two first-round picks can yield more value than one superstar, especially when that superstar’s contract is about to explode. It’s a philosophy that works—if you hit on the picks.”

The pressure is now on Gutekunst to nail the 2027 selection. If that pick becomes a Pro Bowler, the trade is a wash. If it busts, the Packers will have traded away a Hall of Fame talent for pennies on the dollar.

Predictions: How This Draft Pick Reshapes the NFC

Let’s gaze into the crystal ball. The Dallas Cowboys now have one of the most fearsome pass-rushing tandems in football. Parsons, Lawrence, and DeMarcus Lawrence (no relation) create a three-headed monster that will make life miserable for quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones, and Brock Purdy. If the Cowboys’ offense stays healthy, they are the favorites to win the NFC East and a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

For the Green Bay Packers, the immediate future is murkier. Their defense will rely on Joe Barry’s scheme to manufacture pressure, but without a dominant edge rusher, they’ll need to blitz more—a risky proposition against elite quarterbacks. The 2027 first-round pick is a valuable asset, but it’s two years away. In the NFL, two years is an eternity.

Here are my bold predictions:

• Malachi Lawrence will record 8 sacks as a rookie. He’s too talented to be a rotational player, and Dan Quinn will unleash him on third downs.
• Micah Parsons will finish top-3 in Defensive Player of the Year voting. With Lawrence drawing attention, Parsons will see more one-on-one blocks.
• The Packers will miss the playoffs in 2025. Their defense will struggle to close out games, and Jordan Love will face too much pressure.
• Brian Gutekunst will be fired if the 2027 pick doesn’t hit. This trade is his legacy.

Strong Conclusion: The Price of Genius

In the end, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Malachi Lawrence with the pick they got from the Packers in the Micah Parsons trade. It’s a sentence that will be repeated for years—on talk shows, in barstool arguments, and in the halls of Lambeau Field. For every Packers fan who watches Lawrence sack Jordan Love in a few years, there will be a reminder: “They could have had him. Instead, they have a future pick and a cornerback.”

But football is not a game of regrets. It’s a game of decisions. Brian Gutekunst made a bold, calculated move to reshape his roster. Jerry Jones made an aggressive move to win now. Both men believe they are right.

Only time will tell which one is. For now, the Cowboys have a new pass rusher, the Packers have a new cornerback, and the NFL has a new storyline that will simmer until the day those 2027 picks are cashed in. The draft is over, but the trade is far from finished.

One thing is certain: When Malachi Lawrence records his first sack against the Green Bay Packers, the camera will find Brian Gutekunst. And the world will wonder if he’s still “good with that.”

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.